One-Day Cultural Immersion Tour: Unlocking the Dual Cultural Coordinates of Southeastern Longdong

As a travel enthusiast deeply engaged in cultural journeys, I spent a day completing a cultural origin exploration—from the Three Kingdoms ancient battlefield memories in Lixian County, to the root of the Xihuang civilization in Tianshui, and then to the vibrant traditions in the ancient city’s streets. This travel route connecting Lixian and Tianshui carries both the profound depth of history and vivid experiential details, making it a classic path to touch the cultural core of southeastern Longdong. On the morning of the 21st, I set off from downtown Lixian, with the first stop focusing on the Lixian Three Kingdoms Cultural Industry Park. Lixian, a place with a long history, once witnessed Zhuge Liang’s six northern campaigns to Qishan. Here, he strategized and deployed troops, successfully defending against enemies thousands of miles away. Today, the Three Kingdoms Cultural Industry Park located in Qishan Town, Lixian, not only vividly recreates that history but also offers a comprehensive tourism and vacation destination integrating Three Kingdoms-themed tourism, historical immersive experiences, and outdoor family activities. Upon entering the park, I was struck by the grandeur of the architectural complex. At the foot of Qishan Fort, the ancient and elegant Wuhou Shrine complex stands solemn and majestic, with flying eaves, dougong brackets, and carved beams and painted rafters showcasing the superb craftsmanship of ancient artisans. Inside the shrine are displays of replicas of Zhuge Liang’s feather fan, ancient weapons, and more, as if quietly telling legendary stories of the past. The most surprising highlight was the Sci-Fi Qishan Experience Hall, a fascinating hub connecting Three Kingdoms history with future technology. Sitting in the 360-degree dome theater, as the scenes of “Zhuge Liang’s Six Northern Campaigns to Qishan” unfolded before my eyes, the sounds of horse hooves and shouts mixed with blowing sand hit me, and gripping the armrest, I truly felt the tension of being on an ancient battlefield. This experience transformed dry history into an engaging, touchable, and participatory adventure. In the afternoon, I drove about an hour to the Fuxi Temple in Tianshui. As the largest and best-preserved Fuxi sacrificial site in the country, the experience at Fuxi Temple far exceeded expectations. Just entering the vermilion gate, the vigorous aura of 37 ancient cypress trees greeted me. Walking on the blue brick paths through the four courtyards, I instinctively softened my footsteps, as if hearing echoes of millennia-old civilization. In the Xiantian Hall, the Ming Dynasty statue of Fuxi holds the Bagua plate, with exquisitely detailed clothing textures. Looking up, the painted Hetu Bagua on the ceiling remains vivid after hundreds of years. The Taiji Hall’s dragon and phoenix carved wooden windows are even more stunning; sunlight filtering through the lattice casts scattered light, and touching the wood grain feels like touching ancient wisdom. There was no need to rush throughout the visit; listening to the wind rustling through the cypress branches, the weight of millennia-old civilization quietly seeped into my heart. Next, we visited the Tianshui City Museum located within the Fuxi Temple. As the most richly curated comprehensive museum in southeastern Longdong, it immediately captivated me upon entry! I headed straight to the “Cultural Tianshui” exhibition hall, where the Warring States silver-inlaid cloud-patterned bow was stunning up close—the fine cloud patterns wrapped in warm silver light made me want to touch the texture through the glass. The Dadiwan Culture painted pottery section was even more remarkable; palm-sized pottery shards hold the secrets of 8,000 years of civilization, and the patterns evoke vivid images of ancient life. I lingered until closing time, reluctant to leave. The warm light on the artifacts felt like a conversation with millennia-old stories. This immersive cultural encounter was far more thrilling than reading ten history books. As dusk fell, I walked into the ancient city of Tianshui. Lanterns lit up one by one along the bluestone streets, and the warm yellow light made the Ming and Qing style alleys feel especially cozy. At the alley entrance, the old brand “Tianshui Guagua” is a must-try delicacy; its sour, spicy, and chewy texture carries the fragrance of buckwheat, perfectly paired with freshly fried pork lard boxes. The satisfaction from the carbs instantly dispelled fatigue. In the handmade craft shops, artisans sculpt Fuxi statues from local red clay; with fingers flying over the clay, ancient cultural symbols come alive. Visitors can participate in clay sculpting, taking home a piece of “Xihuang culture” made by their own hands. The Qin Opera teahouse in the ancient city’s core is a hub of lively local atmosphere. Ordering a cup of Sanpao tea, listening to veteran performers sing on stage, the audience’s cheers, clinking tea bowls, and the high-pitched melodies of Qin Opera blend together. This vibrant street culture perfectly complements the profound history experienced during the day. From the “dynamic historical experience” of the Three Kingdoms battlefield in Lixian, to the “civilization root exploration” at Fuxi Temple in Tianshui, then the “artifact-based interpretation” at the museum, and finally the “lively cultural perception” in the ancient city, this one-day cross-region travel route achieves a fourfold deep integration of “historical scenes—civilization origins—artifact evidence—life experience.” Whether you are a deep traveler interested in history and culture or a family visitor seeking both knowledge and experience, you can find your own cultural resonance on this route.